Nigeria and the Philippines have agreed to establish a Joint Business Council to boost trade, investment and private-sector engagement between the two countries.
The two countries also agreed to explore the establishment of a Migrant Workers’ Office at the Philippine Embassy in Abuja.
The agreement was reached during a bilateral meeting between Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and her Philippine counterpart, Ma. Theresa Lazaro, on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York
In a statement issued by the Special Assistant on Communication and New Media to the Minister, Dr Magnus Eze, the meeting focused on strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
The Ministers identified fertiliser production, food security and liquefied natural gas (LNG) as priority areas for enhanced collaboration.
They also agreed to convene the next Nigeria-Philippines Bilateral Consultation to advance discussions.
“Nigeria attaches great importance to its relationship with the Philippines, and we see considerable opportunities to translate our shared interests into practical economic and people-to-people partnerships,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu said.
She explained that “the proposed Business Council will provide an important platform for our private sectors to deepen trade and investment, while our discussions on migrant workers underscore our shared commitment to ensuring that Nigerians and Filipinos living and working in each other’s countries are treated with dignity, protected under the law, and supported through appropriate institutional mechanisms.”
The two countries also proposed reciprocal ministerial-level visits in the first and second quarters of 2027 to strengthen diplomatic engagement and advance bilateral cooperation.
On education and human capital development, both sides expressed interest in expanding scholarship and student exchange programmes, as well as facilitating the mutual recognition of educational certificates between Nigeria and the Philippines.
The meeting considered the proposed establishment of a Migrant Workers’ Office, also known as a Labour Desk, at the Philippine Embassy in Abuja to promote the welfare, safety and protection of migrant workers.
The proposed office is expected to provide institutional support on workers’ rights, welfare and immigration-related matters, amid active labour migration between the two countries.
However, the statement noted that “the proposal would require further consultations among relevant stakeholders to ensure that the framework protects the interests of both countries, particularly Nigerians working and residing in the Philippines.”
The consultations are expected to involve relevant departments of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Nigerian Embassy in Manila and other relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
The statement reaffirmed the commitment of Nigeria and the Philippines to strengthening bilateral relations through economic cooperation, trade, investment, education, labour mobility and people-to-people exchanges.
